SEAN Dyche insists he and his staff take pride in the part they’ve played in Michael Keane’s development.

The Clarets could come up against the man they sold for a record fee of £30million this summer when they face Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday, although Keane is facing a battle to be fit for the game against his former side.

The 24-year-old went from being a £2million cast-off from Manchester United when he joined Burnley to an England international and one of the most sought after defenders in the country during his three years at Turf Moor.

Dyche takes pride in the development Keane enjoyed under his tutelage, and the Clarets chief also praised the Burnley fans for the respect they have for former players, suggesting other clubs’ fans could learn a thing or two from the Turf faithful.

Keane is looking to recover from a gashed foot to face Burnley this weekend, and Dyche is looking forward to seeing his former protege.

“He’s a good person, I like him a lot, he’ll continue to be a good player and continue to improve,” he said.

“I’ll say hello before the game, hopefully see him after.

“I’ve spoken recently of the journey of a player behind winning. I’m only judged by results and winning. But myself and my staff, we like to think we can rub off on players and add to their improvement.”

That is a mantra Dyche has believed in since his days as a youth team coach and Keane’s rise to prominence is merely the highest profile example of the numerous players who have developed under his watch at Turf Moor.

“As a youth team coach at Watford I was looking what I could give to the players, reflecting on my own career and the good, the bad and the ugly of it and helping them in their futures,” Dyche explained.

“It’s a big way we work here, we believe in development, the better the players get the better chance I have of being successful. And I tell them that, so it’s in our interests to work with the players.

“I enjoy seeing the players work for us and bring success to us, some have moved on but you keep an eye out to see that hopefully they’re still improving, because you’ve played your part in that as have the staff.”

Keane is guaranteed a warm reception, should he feature, from the away end at Goodison Park this weekend.

His move to Everton provoked no acrimony from Clarets fans and Keane thanked the club for the times he had enjoyed as a player with a long statement when he departed.

And Dyche believes respect and gratitude to former Clarets is a feature of the club’s fans, and one others could learn from.

“I think what I’ve learnt about this area is they love a player and an era. They don’t forget easily.

“Over my time here they’re very respectful of former players. Fans often ask me about former players and if I still speak to them.

“There’s a connection with the history of the club. Some maybe not so good in the past but we’ve been in a pretty successful era.

“I think it’s quite a respectful thing and I’d hope there was a bit more of that in football than some of the other stuff that goes on with fanbases and players.”